Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Kylo Ren Is NOT a Sith

It has been long speculated that Kylo Ren is a different type of Dark Side baddie in the upcoming seventh installment to the Star Wars saga, [Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens](tag:711158). In the upcoming issue of Empire Magazine, director J.J. Abrams opened up a little bit more about the still mysterious baddie played by Adam Driver. When it comes to his abilities with the Force, he's said to be skilled -- but not quite what one might consider a Sith Lord.

"Kylo Ren is not a Sith," says Abrams. "He works under Supreme Leader Snoke, who is a powerful figure on the Dark Side of the Force.”

This might explain the fairly unique crackle of his one-of-a-kind lightsaber, cobbled together by Kylo Ren's own hands. For a while, the rumor mill described Kylo as a new sort of villain, one who idolized the old ways of the Sith, and Abrams seems to confirm that we're not too far off.

When it comes to the First Order, which is seemingly connected to Kylo Ren and the figure he works for -- Supreme Leader Snoke, mo-capped by Andy Serkis -- the philosophy behind it all is a love letter to the Empire itself. Abrams explains:

"[The First Order] came out of conversations about what would have happened if the Nazis all went to Argentina but then started working together again? What could be born of that? Could The First Order exist as a group that actually admired The Empire? Could the work of The Empire be seen as unfulfilled? And could Vader be a martyr? Could there be a need to see through what didn’t get done?"

Enter Kylo Ren, Supreme Leader Snoke, General Hux, the mysterious Captain Phasma, and the order that they stand at the head of. The connections are still a little loose, but this certainly gives fans a better perspective of the state of the galaxy by the time The Force Awakens rolls around.

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